Just before this, the channel’s subscriber count surpassed 10 million.

It is believed that a well-organized social media campaign played a crucial role in Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s comeback in the Brazilian presidential election. In his victory speech in São Paulo, Lula specifically highlighted the "extraordinary" contribution of Congressman André Janones to his campaign. But who is this Janones, under whose leadership the online campaign reached a new level?

The 42-year-old politician hails from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. He is the founder of a popular WhatsApp channel known as "Lula’s Army," which played a pivotal role in orchestrating the online campaign in support of the president-elect.

In the final weeks of the election, this channel became one of the primary digital tools for Lula’s campaign, serving as a conduit for spreading positive messages and various promotional materials. Through regular videos and messages, Janones addressed the channel’s members as "soldiers," urging them to share posts and recruit new members. Ahead of Sunday’s second round of voting...

In his victory speech in São Paulo, Lula remarked that this election had taught him a great deal—including the power of social media.

He stated that, moving forward, opportunities would be created to increase public participation in the government’s decision-making process. Furthermore, digital communication will play a significant role in his new administration.

Lula’s Political Stance and Environmental Policy

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has served as the President of Brazil three times previously. When he began his third term in 2023, he indicated that it would be his final one; however, his party nominated him once again for the election held just two days before his 81st birthday.

Many of Lula’s supporters acknowledge that he achieved greater success during his first two terms (2003–2010) than he did in the most recent four-year period. He is credited with lifting millions of people out of poverty through a cash-transfer program known as ‘Bolsa Família.’ When he left office on January 1, 2011, his approval rating stood at over 80 percent.

Subsequently, however, his political career faced a major setback; he was convicted in a corruption case and spent more than 18 months in prison. After his conviction was overturned in 2021, he became eligible to run in the 2022 election, in which he defeated Jair Bolsonaro to reclaim the presidency.

He remains a prominent figure in leftist politics. Prior to the 2022 election, his supporters even dubbed him the "savior of the Amazon" due to his commitment to protecting the rainforest. Nevertheless, some of his recent actions have drawn criticism from environmentalists.

In particular, environmental activists have raised objections to initiatives aimed at oil exploration in maritime areas near the mouth of the Amazon River. Lula maintains that he has not abandoned the goal of eventually phasing out the use of fossil fuels. He argues that revenue generated from oil could play a crucial role in financing the transition to clean energy.

Source: BBC